2012 Draft Prep: Wide receiver Fantasy trends

Like the quarterback position, we have seen a big explosion in points for wide receivers over the last nine years. Like the running back position, we have seen a big jump in the depth of quality Fantasy producers at the receiver position, but unlike the running backs, the growth has not come at the expense of the elite receivers.

So what exactly has happened with receivers over the last nine years? Let's take a look at all of the trends now to help provide a better game plan for attacking the position on Draft Day.

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Receivers were the highest scoring position in 2003 with 8,752 total points, which made up 25.4 percent of the total points scored that year. Growth was slow through 2008, when receivers scored 9,756 points, or 25 percent of that season's total points. However, over the last three seasons, wide receiver scoring has really taken off. Receivers were tops in the game with 10,860 points in 2011, which accounted again for 25.4 percent of the overall Fantasy points.

So where has the massive 2,108 points (24.1 percent) growth at the position come from over the last nine seasons?

The answer to that question is everywhere! Receivers caught 403 touchdown passes in 2003 and that number climbed to only 409 by 2008. However, just like the total points from receivers jumped a ton in the last three years, so have receiving touchdowns, as we saw 473 of them in 2011. That's a 70 touchdown jump, which represents a 17.4 percent increase since 2003. That is significant, but clearly the yardage numbers must be shooting up for the overall point scoring to be up 24.1 percent among receivers.

In 2003, receivers hauled in 4,629 passes for 62,543 yards (13.5 yards per catch). Last year, receivers caught 5,718 passes (23.5 percent jump) for 78,756 yards, which is a big 25.9 percent jump. With passing yardage exploding, it is no shock that receivers are racking up yards and Fantasy points at a record clip. That does not seem to be changing anytime soon, so let's look now at the position from an individual Fantasy perspective to help craft draft strategies.

Like the running back position, the percentage of total points made up by the starters has taken a big tumble at the receiver position since 2003. That year, the top 36 receivers accounted for 58.4 percent of the position's total points. Last year, that number fell all the way to 49.8 percent, which was the second biggest drop (14.7 percent) of any position, ahead of only the running backs. That is where the similarities with the running back position end however, as the receivers are becoming more productive across the board and the top is not paying the price.

In 2003, 45 receivers reached the 80-point plateau, 31 scored at least 100 points, 15 topped 140 points and two who eclipsed 200 Fantasy points. In 2011, those numbers were up across the board. Last year, 56 receivers hit 80 points, 41 receivers topped 100 points, 21 went above 140 points and four receivers made the rarefied air north of 200 points. With 56 receivers scoring at least 80 points and 41 scoring at least 100, it is no wonder that the top 36 are making up a smaller percentage of the total points than they did back in 2003.

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The only areas where the elite receivers are down from their 2003 predecessors are receptions and touchdowns. That should come as no surprise given that team's are spreading the ball around in multiple receiver sets at the same time that the tight end is becoming a major pass-catching position. Back in 2003, seven receivers had 90 or more catches and eight receivers notched double digit touchdowns. Last year, we had only three receivers with 90 grabs or 10 touchdowns. However, in 2011 there were 32 receivers with at least six touchdown grabs, up from 25 in 2003. From a yardage standpoint, however, today's receivers have a nice advantage both at the top and overall. The 2011 season had the 2003 season bested in receivers over 1,500 yards (three to two), 1,000 yards (17 to 14) and 900 yards (27 to 18).

Clearly, there is better production from the wide receiver position, with more players making a Fantasy impact than ever before. With teams featuring two and in some cases even three receivers, the depth at the position is greater than at any period in NFL history and you can use that to your advantage on Draft Day. To understand that better, let's look at the recent consistency and draft trends among the top 24 receivers.

Over the last three years we have seen close to 50 percent of the top 24 turnover year after year. In fact, 12 of the top 24 receivers have failed to repeat in each of the last two years, down from 14 returners in 2009. The depth at the receiver position makes it very tough for the non-elite receivers to keep their spots year after year. Injuries have kept a few elite receivers off of the list in recent years and you may be shocked to learn that only Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Wes Welker, Greg Jennings, Marques Colston and Percy Harvin have been top 24 receivers in each of the last three seasons.

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Last year we saw a record 14 of the top 24 receivers come from within the first 60 picks of the draft and 15 of the first 24 receivers taken finished in the Top 24. It should also be noted that over the last three years, 10 of the top 15 receivers on average have been drafted in the first five rounds. That shows some predictability at the receiver position on Draft Day, but this is also one of the least predictable positions in the entire game. In each of the last three years, at least one Top 5 Fantasy receiver and two Top 10 receivers have been drafted after the 140th pick or not at all. Also, at least seven of the Top 24 in each of the last three years has been drafted after the 100th pick or not drafted at all, so there are consistently late round diamonds and waiver wire gems to mine.

Given that the studs tend to be pretty reliable, some late-round or waiver wire wonders always emerge and there is consistent turnover among the top 24, what should your game plan for receivers be on Draft Day? I would want to snag two receivers in my first five picks (you can even go two in your first six picks this year) to grab those anchors at the position. Then grab a solid third receiver in the middle rounds (as early as Round 6 if someone too good to pass slips to you), along with an upside fourth receiver and then a great late round flier like Randall Cobb to round out your receiving corps.

Using current ADP data, you could snag two running backs and a quarterback with your first three picks and still end up with a receiver group of Brandon Marshall or Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin or Demaryius Thomas and Antonio Brown or Eric Decker in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds, which is pretty darn solid. You obviously could start with Calvin Johnson late in the first round or snag your top receiver in Round 2 or Round 3, but the key to me is to grab two receivers in the top five rounds to secure those reliable guys. Then you are well positioned to take advantage of the depth and upside of the receiver position that has exploded over the last nine years, while also securing yourself at quarterback and the shallow running back spot.

Given the depth at tight end and the fact that you will already have a stud quarterback and two top runners, your top five will be poised to start a championship run.

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(11:53 am ET)The Eagles released cornerback Cary Williams, who started all 32 games during his two-year tenure in Philly. Williams recorded 127 tackles, five interceptions and 24 passes defensed since joining the Eagles.

Williams, 30, was scheduled to make $6.5 million this season with a cap hit of $8.1 million.

(11:30 am ET)The Falcons signed linebacker Nate Stupar, a special teams standout, to a one-year extension for the minimum, $585,000, reports ESPN.com. Stupar ranked second on the team with nine special teams tackles, seven solo, while appearing in 15 games last season.

(10:09 am ET)The Ravens and former running back Ray Rice settled his wrongful termination grievance in January for $1.588 million, sources told the Baltimore Sun. The financial details were not disclosed until now.

In the grievance, Rice had sought $3.529 million in back pay. The Ravens cut him Sept. 8, hours after the release of a video showing Rice knocking out his then-fiancee in a casino elevator.

Rice hasn't visited any NFL teams, but he's working out regularly and hoping to latch on with a team this season, the paper said.

(9:18 am ET)Despite the fact that New Orleans is $22 million above the salary cap, Saints coach Sean Payton expressed optimism about the team's chances of re-signing free agent running back Mark Ingram, per The Advocate.

“I spoke with him today," Payton told the paper Monday nght. "The good thing about Mark is that we’re real close with his agent. We work a lot with Joel (Segal). [GM] Mickey [Loomis] will talk with him quite a bit. Obviously he’s someone that we want to keep. Hopefully we can do that.”

In 13 games last season, Ingram ran for 964 yards and nine touchdowns while catching 29 passes for 145 yards.

According to NFL.com, it's unlikely the Saints can afford to bring back Ingram.

Patriots' Devin McCourty: There's a 'chance that I might not be back'by Jason Butt | CBSSports.com

(3/2/2015)With the Patriots deciding to use their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, safety Devin McCourty knows his time in New England could be coming to an end.

In an interview with ESPN's Josina Anderson, McCourty said he didn't have much information on what the Patriots would do and was going off of various media reports that came down to the organization deciding whether to franchise him or Gostkowski.

Now that Gostkowski is ineligible from hitting the free agent market, McCourty will test the waters beginning on March 10.

"I guess it's more realistic now that [there's] a chance that I might not be back there," McCourty said. "Or there's still a chance that I will, but I guess [there's] more of a chance now with the franchise tag going to Steve that I could be playing in a different place. Still, keeping an open mind and trying to enjoy the process."

The Texans told Johnson that he'd have a reduced role this upcoming season opposite of DeAndre Hopkins. Therefore, Johnson wanted out of his deal. If a trade cannot be made with a suitor, Johnson will be released.

Johnson was the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft and is the greatest player in the history of the Texans. He's recorded 1,012 catches, 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns in his career.

A trade could be difficult, however, based on Johnson's upcoming $16.1 million cap figure and $10.5 million base salary for the 2015 season.

(3/2/2015)Running back Vick Ballard is poised to be back in the Colts' plans for the 2015 season.

Ballard, who has missed almost all of the previous two seasons due to injuries, hasn't suffered any setbacks with his recovery, according to the Colts' official website. Ballard tore his ACL in 2013 and suffered an Achilles tear before the 2014 season.

“Vick’s doing well. He’s going through rehab right now. He’s on schedule,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "He’s been working his tail. When the doctors say he’s 100 percent and ready to roll, then we’ll get him back on the field.”

Ballard led the Colts in rushing as a rookie in 2012 with 814 yards and two touchdowns. He only played in one game in 2013 before tearing his ACL in a practice the following week. His Achilles tear came during the 2014 preseason.